Page:The Rise and Fall on the Paris Commune in 1871.djvu/549

 and an artist, could be confounded with the iconoclasts of the Louvre and Tuileries.

After a long and often-interrupted march, the procession finally made its entrance into the Palais de l'Industrie, seat of the chief military provostship, whence he was sent the same evening to Versailles.

He was conducted, immediately upon his arrival, to the prison of the Rue Saint-Pierre, and placed in cell No. 8, between Rochefort and his secretary, Mourot.

The ex-Delegate of Foreign Affairs was very depressed in spirits, and seemed convinced that he was to be shot on the spot without any form of trial. When he arrived at the prison and saw the guardians of the peace ranged round his carriage, he said, in a trembling voice:

"Soldiers, don't hurt me!" words which he repeated for the third time since his arrest.

When he saw that the peril was not as imminent as he had feared, he regained a certain assurance, and, in entering his cell, remarked to the guardians who conducted him:

"They did well to come Two hours later they would not have found me."

This appearance of tranquillity was not of long duration; invited to take something to eat, he refused, asking only for some tobacco. He then added:

"When shall I be judged? I hope I shall be judged. It is my right; I was not taken prisoner with arms in my hands."

It was then explained to him that he must await the orders of the military authorities, to whom he belonged, for the future. During most of the night Grousset was pacing his narrow cell.

On the morrow he was up at an early hour, having thrown himself, towards morning, dressed, upon the bed, expecting to be interrogated immediately. The day passed,